Carafe



June 6, 1961 E. c. SCANLON CARAFE Filed June 10. 1959 INVENTOR. EDWARD C. SCANLON BY ATTORNEY United States Patent Oihce 'iatented June 6, 1961 2,987,212 CARAFE Edward C. Scanlon, 13 Richmond Ave., West Barrington, R.I. Filed June 10,1959, Ser. No. 819,331 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-17) This invention relates to carafes and more particularly to carafes provided with removable insulated linings and protective covers.

Hospital patients complaints of unpalatable bedside water called attention to the potential hazard of bedside drinking water as an unappreciated vehicle in crossinfection in hospitals. Inspection of patients water carafes in several hospitals revealed turbid, malodorous water in a majority of cases.

This finding stimulated the bacteriologic examination of the water carafes in numerous hospitals. Cultures were taken. The density of coliforms was found higher than United States Public Health Service Standards allow. High density of staphylococci was also found. A survey of the management of water supply, ice-making and dispensing facilities, and carafe processing and distribution was then undertaken to demonstrate factors responsible for the contamination.

The present structure was created to overcome all known deficiencies in carafes and their use. It consists of a body member shaped to permit a disposable liner to be suspended therein from an upper lip. A mouthcap is pivotally connected to the neck of the body member and is removably secured to the upper lip.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in part and be pointed out in part in the following specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the new and improved carafe.

FIGURE 2 is a plan View of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 2.

In proceeding with this invention, reference numeral 10, generally designates the body member shaped so as to provide a base 11, cylindrical sides 12 raising out of the base and tapering into a reduced neck portion 13 having a flared mouth 14 terminating in a lip 15. Base 11 and neck portion 13 are provided wtih a plurality of orifices 16, 17 respectively, for purposes which will presently appear.

A plastic bag 20 constituting a water proof liner is suspended into body member with the top of the bag folded over mouth 14 and lip and extending downwardly over reduced neck portion 13. Bag is provided with a body diameter equal to the diameter of the reduced neck portion at the narrowest inside diameter so as to allow an air space 21 between the sides of bag 29 and the sides 12 of body member 10. Bag 20 preferably does not rest upon the inside surface of base 11. Thus a form of air insulation surrounds bag 20.

A mouth-cap 25 constituting a cover for body member 10 is provided with a flange 26 having a projection 27. A slot 28 is located in projection 27. The inside surface of mouth-cap 25 snap fits upon lip 15. An elastic band 30 provided with an upstanding tongue 31 or enlarged end, is yieldingly placed over plastic bag 20 at reduced neck portion 13 with tongue 31 located in slot 28. Elastic band 30 yieldingly holds bag 20 against reduced neck portion 13 while serving as a pivotal member for mouth-cap 25.

In operation body member 10 and mouth-cap 25 are preferably fabricated from autoclavable material which can be steam sterilized up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. Bag 25 is preferably fabricated from material, such as plastic, which is inexpensive enough and fragile enough to withstand the cost and abuse of a single use and is then discarded to insure a new, clean, sanitary, daily liner for body member 10. Thereby preventing the accumulation of dust and the contamination caused by handling and use.

The orifices 16, 17 singularly or combined prevent the retention of liquid in body member 10 without the use of a liner or bag 20. Elastic band 30 provides a quick and easy means of attaching and holding bag 20 to body member 10, and it provides a simple, inexpensive hinge for mouth-cap 25.

Having shown and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, by way of example, it should be realized that structural changes could be made and other examples given without departing from either the spirit or scope of this invention.

What I claim is:

1. A carafe consisting of a body member having a base, cylindrical sides raising out of said base and tapering into a reduced neck portion having a flared mouth terminating in a lip, said body member perforated to prevent the retention of liquids therein, a bag constituting a water proof liner suspended into said body member with the top of the bag folded over the flared mouth and lip and extending downwardly over the outside surface of the reduced neck portion, an air space provided between said bag and the inside of said cylindrical sides from the reduced neck portion to said base, a mouth-cap having a flange provided with a projection, a slot in said projection, said mouth cap removably secured to said lip with said liner interposed between said lip and said mouth-cap and an elastic band having an enlarged end secured in said slot and embracing the reduced neck portion to yieldingly secure said liner to said body member.

2. A carafe consisting of a body member having a base, cylindrical sides raising out of said base and tapering into a reduced neck portion having a flared mouth terminating in a lip, and fabricated from autoclavable material, said body member perforated to prevent the retention of liquids therein, a plastic bag constituting a Water proof liner suspended into said body member with the top of the plastic bag folded over the flared mouth and lip and extending downwardly over the outside surface of the reduced neck portion, an air space provided between said plastic bag and the inside of said cylindrical sides from the reduced neck portion to said base, a mouthcap having a flange provided with a projection, a slot in said projection, said mouth cap removably secured to said lip with said liner interposed between said lip and said mouth-cap and an elastic band having an enlarged end secured in said slot and embracing the reduced neck portion to yieldingly secure said liner to said body member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,905,628 Baron Apr. 25, 1933 2,338,604 Silveyra Jan. 4, 1944 2,643,448 Piazze June 30, 1953 2,678,764 Carlson May 18, 1954 2,763,392 Makela Sept. 18, 1956 2,826,324 Hoag Mar. 11, 1958 2,846,103 Maxwell Aug. 5, 1958 2,859,891 Carkin Nov. 11, 1958 

